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Magaliesberg Biosphere

DESIGNATED BY UNESCO IN JUNE 2015

The Magaliesberg Biosphere was designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris on 9 June This followed nearly a decade of lobbying by environmentalists. The project was driven by a committee comprising members of the North West Department of Rural, Environment and Agricultural Development (READ), the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural development (GDARD) and the Magaliesberg Biosphere Initiative Group (MBIG) and had financial assistance from the Provincial government through the department of READ, and the Finnish Environment Institute (also known as SYKE).

A series of meetings was held in Gauteng and North West during October to introduce the public to the Biosphere and explain the process of nominating people qualified and ready to assist the development of the Biosphere. An election was held in December 2015. An announcement was expected by the MEC in January 2016, but alas this has not yet happened. The Magaliesberg Biosphere Initiative Group has followed up several times to determine when the Board members

The stakeholder interest groups were identified by the consulting firm responsible for preparing the submission to UNESCO.